RESA January eNews

The RESA team welcomes you to 2018, we hope you have a prosperous new year!

The mining and resources sector is doing its part to make 2018 a great year for South Australia, contributing to the economy and jobs which are showing growth and improvement. Mining employment is up more that 40% on a year ago and our data analysis of Mining and Energy jobs advertisements in South Australia show that in the last two quarters of 2017 were both more than 100% higher than a
year ago. Not since the days of the mining boom have we seen so many jobs advertised.

Importantly they are great jobs, the South Australian Mining and Energy sector provides an opportunity for highly skilled, high paying work and offers a great career. It also makes a huge contribution to our way of life through power to homes, fertiliser to farms and elements that are part of every product we buy!

We look forward to continued growth this year and the opportunity and jobs that will be created. I hope to meet and work with many of you during 2018.

Is your business Resources Ready?

Things are looking up for the mining and resources sector in Australia. Is your business best prepared to take advantage of new opportunities?

Resources Ready 2018 is an innovative new business capability development program from RESA, supported by METS Ignited. The national program will be delivered across Australia to regional centres, and will support companies working in, or seeking to enter the Mining, Energy, and Oil and Gas sectors to build their business capability and improve their resources strategy.

Commencing on February 21 in Whyalla - the Upper Spencer Gulf and Townsville - North Queensland with limited places remaining, have you considered if your business is Resources Ready?

SolarReserve has opened its Australian headquarters and a field office near where it will build a 150MW solar thermal power plant. Construction on the plant will begin this year, after receiving development approval from the State Government this month.

SolarReserve’s $650 million Aurora plant, which will use mirrors to heat molten salt and store energy, will supply 100 per cent of the
State Government electricity load from 2020, after winning the competitive tender process.

New gas field discovery in the Otway Basin, SA

Beach Energy has announced a new gas field discovery at Haselgrove-3 ST1 in the onshore Otway Basin, South Australia. Flow test results from the primary target Sawpit Sandstone indicate a high deliver ability reservoir and provide encouragement to move towards commercialisation of a large gas resource. Beach plans to undertake immediate follow-up testing to confirm well deliverability and assess connected volumes and gas composition.

Work Experience Placement Program

In conjunction with University of Adelaide, and in collaboration with SACOME and AusIMM, RESA is continuing the Work Experience Placement Program. Having already successfully matched 20 mining engineering students to work experience placement opportunities, RESA is would like to engage with suitable businesses to support even undergraduates to complete their industry placements. More information can be found on the ‘Hot Rubble’ mining careers website (www.hotrubble.com.au), which also provides the necessary tools and information for students seeking work in the mining and resources sector.

If your business could support an undergraduate work experience project, please contact Jeanine Carruthers, Stakeholder Engagement Manager, RESA, jeanine.carruthers@resa.org.au or 08 7325 8555.

Tesla’s SA battery is surpassing expectations

The Hornsdale power reserve was officially opened in South Australia just over one month ago and the battery's performance has so far lived up to the hype created by the project.

Hornsdale Power Reserve has been busy performing essential services and doing so at impressive speeds. Following it's early success, Victoria has also secured an agreement for a Tesla battery to be built near Stawell.